Combination direction signal lamp



1957 R. N. FALGE ETFAL COMBINATION DIRECTIQN SIGNAL LAMP Filed June 29, 1953 United States Patent Q COMBINATION DIRECTION SIGNAL LAMP Robert N. Falge and Howard C. Mead, Anderson, Ind., assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application June 29, 1953, Serial No. 364,608 8 Claims. (Cl. 34073) The present invention relates to a direction signal lamp and more particularly to a combination direction signal and stop and tail signal lamp for use on commercial vehicles.

Several of the States have recently revised their motor vehicle laws pertaining to direction signal indicators to specify a minimum lens illuminated area of 12 square inches. Prior to this time the general requirements were directed mainly toward the intensity of illumination. The present requirement creates a twofold problem in the automotive industry in that a condition of increased area with a high degree of light intensity is specified in addition to the practical necessity for maintaining the same over-all dimensions for the lamp housing so as to eliminate the necessity for redesigning body stamping machinery.

It is therefore an object of our invention to construct a turn signal lamp having a minimum number of parts for Simple and inexpensive assembly and minimum liability of disarrangement of parts.

An additional object of our invention is to provide a direction indicating lamp having the legally required illuminated area.

A further object of our invention is to provide a direction indicating lamp having the required intensity of lighting as well as the required illuminated area.

A still further object of our invention is to provide a direction indicating lamp substantially eliminating any leakage of light between several indicating compartments.

To attain these objects, we form the lamp housing with three compartments, each having a parabolic reflectorshaped rear wall, by means of a pair of partitions which cooperate with similar partitions on the underside of the lens to effectively block the light from passing between sections.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the .following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a plan view of the signal lamp of our invention, the upper portion of the lens being broken away.

Figure2 is a section view on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section view on line 33 of Figure 1.

The improved signal lamp of our invention comprises a lamp housing having a generally bullet-shaped cavityas viewed in elevation which cavity is divided into three compartments by a pair of generally L-shaped partitions 3. The lamp housing may be made of sheet metal stampings or, as shown on the drawing, of die cast metal. The short legs of the partitions each abut a side wall of the cavity and define a direction indicating arrowhead 7. The long legs of the partitions are substantially parallel to and spaced from both the cavity walls and each other and define the arrow shaft 9, the shaft section being in open connection with the head section. Upper and lower compartments 11 and 13 are defined by each partition and the cavity wall. The rear wall of each compartment is contoured to form a parabolic reflecting surface. An

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aperture 15 is provided in each compartment for so positioning a socket-bulb assembly 17 therein that the bulb filaments are substantially at the focal point of each reflector-compartment, thus assuring optimum illumination and direction of light.

The location of the single direction indicating bulb in the head section of the compartment presents a serious problem as to the intensity of illumination of the shaft portion of the arrow compartment. This has been overcome in the prior art by use of additional light bulbs positioned in the shaft sections with attendant complication of construction, increase in costs and number of parts and a greater likelihood of failure.

One of the features of applicants invention is to so position the direction indicating bulb in the head section 7 of the arrow compartment as to be pointed in the general direction of the relatively narrow shaft portion of the arrow. As shown in Figure 1 the light bulbassembly 17 projects into the arrow compartment through the bottom wall thereof, upwardly and rearwardly into the relatively narrow shaft 9. The arrow compartment is so designed that its focal point is located substantially adjacent the plane of junction of the shaft section 9 with the head section 7. The longitudinal axis of the light bulb and socket assembly is substantially parallel to and coincident with the horizontal plane, as viewed in Figure l, which includes the longitudinal axis of the shaft. The aperture 15 is so positioned as to face the aforementioned plane of junction. By so locating the light source, applicants are able to illuminate the narrow section of the arrow using the single bulb provided therein.

In order to substantially eliminate any leakage of light between compartments the lamp lens 19 is provided with a pair of generally L-shaped partitions 21 on its inner surface for cooperation with the similar pair of partitions 3 formed in the lamp housing. Lens partitions 21 are opaque and are of such length as to form a substantial overlap with the housing partitions thus creating a barrier for the passage of light as is clearly shown in Figure 3. Lens 19 is seated on sealing gasket 23 and is held thereon by fastening the bezel 25 to the lamp base 1.

Each of the upper and lower compartments constitutes the tail and stop signal indicating section. Each compartment is provided with a 3-21 candle power double fila: ment bulb. The three candle power filament is for the tail light and the 21 candle power filament is for the stop light. When the tail light is on, the stop light is signalled by depressing the brake pedal which makes contact with the 21 candle power filament.

The direction indicating compartment, the arrow, is provided with a 21 candle power bulb which is connected by operation of the direction signal selector switch in the driver compartment.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is as follows:

1. In a combination signal lamp a housing having a generally arrow-shaped compartment comprising a head portion and an elongated shaft portion and anupper and lower compartment separated by the shaft portion of said first mentioned compartment, and a parabolic reflector surface formed in the rear wall of each compartment, the

focal point of the reflector surface in said first mentioned compartment being located adjacent the plane of junction of the head and shaft portions of said compartment.

2. In a signal lamp a housing having a generally arrowshaped compartment comprising a head portion and an elongated shaft portion and a parabolic reflector surface formed in the rear wall of said compartment, the focal 3 point of said reflector surface being located adjacent the plane of junction of the head and shaft portions of said compartment.

3. In a combination signal lamp a housing having agenerally arrow-shaped compartment comprising ahead portion and a shaft portion and an upper and lower cornpartment separated by said first mentioned compartment, a parabolic reflector surface formed in the rear wall of each compartment, the focal point of the reflector surface of 'said first mentioned compartment being located adjacent the plane of junction of the head and shaft portions of said compartment, and an aperture provided in the bottom ofeach compartment for the admission of a lighting element, the aperture in said first mentioned compartment facing said plane of junction.

4. In a combination direction signal lamp a'housing having a generally bullet-shaped cavity, a pair 'of generally hap d.n 1 .n p si on in i ca i y, e shor s: 'e h Pa t respectively but n h S de ll 9f a d. a t e lon e b n po o ed Paral e o and spaced from said side walls and each other, thus forming a generally arrow-shaped compartment comprising a head portion and a shaft portion and upper and lower compartments separated by the shaft portion of said first mentioned compartment, a parabolic reflector surface formed in the rear wall of each compartment, the focal point of the reflector surface of saidfirst mentioned compartment being located adjacent the plane of junction of the head and shaft portions of said compartn'ient, and an aperture provided at the bottom of each compartment for the admission of a lighting element, the aperture in said first mentioned compartment facing said plane.

"5. In a combination direction signal lamp a housing, a plurality of partitions within said housing diyiding it into a generally arrow-shaped compartment comprising a :head portion and a shaft portion and an upper and lower compartment separated by the shaft portion of said firstmentioned compartment, a lens seated on and sealing the face of said housing, and a plurality of opaque partitions formed on the underside of said lens, said lens partitions Jbeing complementary with and overlapping said first mentioned partitions to substantially block off the passageof light between compartments.

6. In a combination direction signal lamp a housing having a laterally positioned rim, a plurality of partitions within said housing dividing it into a generally arrowsha ped compartment comprising a head portion and a shaft portion and an upper and lower compartment separated by the shaft portionof said first mentioned compartment, a parabolic reflector surface formed in the rear Wall of each compartment, the focal point or said first mentioned compartment being located adjacent the plane of jnnction of the head and shaft portions of said corn- Pa tt m an psr ur pr df each mpat ms t u he o a ht ng em ht bu bl u s d; compartment, the filaments being positioned aidjaceht their respective focal points, a lens seated on said rim and sealing the face of said housing, and a plurality of opaque partitions formed on the underside of said lens, said lens partitions being complementary with said first mentioned partitions to substantially block .off the passage of light h wesuwmnartm n '7; In a combination direction signal 'lamp a housing within said housing dividing it into a generally arrowshaped compartment and an upper and lower compartment comprising a head portion and a shaft portion separated by the shaft portion of said first mentioned compartment, a parabolic reflector surface formed in the rear wall of each compartment, the focal point of the reflector surface of said first mentioned compartment being located adjacent the plane of junction of the head and shaft portions, an aperture providedin each compartment for the admission of a lighting element, a light bulb in each compartment, the filaments being positioned substantially at their respective focal points, the plane of the aperture in said first mentioned compartment facing said plane of junction, a lens seated on said rim and sealing the face of said housing, and a plurality of opaque partitions formed on the under-side of said lens, said lens partitions being complementary with and overlapping said first mentioned partitions to substantially block :Qff the passage of light between compartments.

8. In a combination direction signal lamp a housing liaving a generally bullet shaped cavity, said housing having a laterally positioned rim, a pair of generally L-shaped partitions positioned in said cavity, the short leg of reach partition respectively abutting the side walls of said cavity, the long legs positioned parallel to and spaced from saidvside walls and each other, thus forming a .generally arrow-shaped compartment comprising a head :porlion and ,a shaft portion and upper and lower compartments separated-by the shaft portion of said first mentiorie d compartment, a parabolic reflector surface formed in the rear wall of each compartment, the focal point of said first mentioned compartment being located adjacent the plane of junction of the head and shaft portions :of said compartment, an aperture provided-at the bottom of each compartment for the admission ofa lighting element, a light bulb in each compartment, the filaments being positioned substantially at the respective focal'points, the aperture in said first mentioned compartment facing said plane, a sealing gasket seated on said rim, an optical lens seated on said gasket and closing the face of said housing, and a pair of generally L-shaped opaque partitions formed on the underside of said lens, said lens partitionsbeing complemeut ry with and overlapping said first mentioned partiiQ lS -19 substantially block off the passage of light between compartments.

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